Clasp.



No. 675,170. Patoilted May 28,1901.

0-. L. "SMITH. 1

. CLASP.

flamin filed Apr. 22, 1001.]

(No Model.)

WITNESSES: mvskrofi I ATTOHIVEYJ TN: In.) men. M, wmnlwm, u. a

UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE.

DWIGHT L. SMITH, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE WATERBURYBUCKLE 00., OF SAME PLACE.

CLASP.

"SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 675,170, dated May 28,1901.

Application filed April 22, 1901.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DWIGHT L. SMITH, of Waterbury, in the county of NewHaven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement inClasps; and I do hereby dein clasps, and particularly to clasps adaptedfor hose-supporters, and is an improvement on the clasp for whichLetters Patent of the United States No. 513,094 were granted J anuary23, 1894, to WVilliam B. Draper. The clasp shown and described in thatpatent comprised a plate having a circular projection struck up from itand having a slit near the base of the projection, which was adapted tocoact with a second plate which had a circular recess formed in itcorresponding to the circular projection on the other plate and a fingeradapted to pass beneath the projection on the first plate; but themembers of such a clasp are liable to accidental separation.

The object of this invention is to prevent such accidental separation;and it consists in forming the main plate with a spring-tongue adaptedto hold the two members in close engagement with each other and as morefully hereinafter described.

As herein shown, the plate A is substantially like the plate of thepatent referred to. and is provided with one of more slots 13, by whichthe straps are secured. In the plate is a circular projection C, havinga convex outer face, and at the base of said circular projection is aslot D. Slits a a are made in the plate, forming a spring-tongue E, theend of which extends into the slot D. The other member of the clasp issubstantially the same as in the patent referred to and consists of aplate F, provided with one or more slots G for the attachment of a strapor other device,

Serial No. 56,9101 (Nomodeh) and in this plate is a circular recess II,corre sponding to and adapted to receive the projection 0. At one sideof the recess H is a finger I, which extends inward into the recess inthe plane of the plate F and is formed at its end with a slightindentation J. The finger is adapted to enter the slot D and is narrowerthan the length of the slot, so that the parts may be turned one uponthe other, the indentation J forming a point J, which bears against theinner face of the projection C, as shown in Fig. 3. In uniting the partsthe finger I passes through the slot D,over the springtongue E, andbeneath the projection O, and the end of the spring-tongue bears againstthe under face of the finger and holds it in engagement with theprojection C, but readily yields to permit the parts to be separatedwhen desired.

It is apparent that instead of forming the spring-tongue as an integralpartofthe plate A it may be formed independently and riveted to theplate, so as to project into the slot D in substantiallythe same manneras though it were formed with a single piece.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The herein-described clasp comprising a plate having a circularprojection and a slot at the base thereof, a spring, the end of whichextends into said slot, and asecond plate having a circular recesscorresponding to the projection of the first plate, and formed with afinger extending into said recess, substantially as described.

2. The herein-described clasp comprising a plate having a circularprojection and a slot at the base thereof, a spring formed integral withsaid plate and extending into the said slot, and a second plate having acircular recess corresponding to the projection of the first plate, andformed with a finger extending into said recess,substantially asdescribed. In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

DWIGHT L. SMITH.

Witnesses:

0. H. HART, M. E. MINTIE.

